Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-08-31
sTAUNTON ROLLER MILLS.
FARMING AND MILLING INTERESTS.

STANTON ROLLER MILLS.
FARMING AND MILLING INTERESTS.
The farmers of Augusta, as all available
statistical information shows. are pursuing the
only prudent and safe course open to them In
these times of depressed values for their staple
crops The improvement of the soils OF our
Valley country cannot be carried forward, as
experience has demonstrated, by departures
for any or all the smaller. and what are termed
naked industries by surrendering the staple
crops. No advocate for soil-improVement or
progressive industry advances the loea that
we should not endeavor by every means at
command to engage in dairying, sheep-hus.
bandry. and raising cattle and swine with
proper attention to fruit culture. etc., but we
can no more afford to surrender the basis of
our agriculture in raising grain, and thereby
secure large crops of grass and hay with soil
Improvement. than we can TO introduce the
visionary theories OF this and that scnooi OF
domestic economy which finds its advocates
for general purposes based upon special
interests never safe to be established as gen.
era1 policy.
MILLING PROGRESS.
In bringing up the milling interest of Staun--
ton and Augusta county to proper view, our
farmers will find q growing development COM
ending itself to their especial favor. 1t Is the
more to be appreciated because the regulations
adopted In commercial ntercourse-preparing
flour for the trade demand-has In great
measure departed or advanced from the former
rule combining all packages to barrels. and
therefore the custom of twenty-five years ago
and previously, when farmer could have his
wheat ground and deliver 1t himself In barrels
of flour II wholly practised now, would ex-
clude his product from q growing trade which
calls for the bread-supply in packages OF
twenty five, fifty, and one hundred pounds
For the truth of this statement it is only neces-
sary to spend few hours at the Roller Mills.
the chief source of supplying the export de-
mand, to learn how rapidly this mode is grow
ing in popular favor, whilst at the same time
the commerce in barrel packages is kept up to
the full demand as the orders come in.
During the last few years the Waynesboro'
Mills, Mr.. ]. A, Patterson, Jr.; the Valley
Mills, Mr. Andrew Bowling; and the Staun-
ton Mills, Messrs. Witt & Holt. have been
changed from the Burr to the Roller system o.
grinding, the capacities of each in turning out
flour greatly enlarged and adding to their
facilities of storage large elevators. More re-
Gently all have made new improvements-Mr.
bowling curing Inc lasL lew weeks.
THE sTAUNToN ROLLER MILLS.
In 1864, with the destruction of other valu-
able properties by military order in the VAL
ley, the Staunton Woollen Factory went down
in flames The site it occupied was the best in
or imm ediately near the city, in commanding
Apart from that, the Valley Of
Lewis Creek commences there to assume its
course and inviting views. The
Fair grounds were then just below that seat Of
former industry, and beyond were charging
farming areas spread out on table land, and
along the approaching confluence of the princi-
pal streams of the county.
Staunton, surrounded by an agricultural
country, and its trade mainly supported by
that interest, had no merchant mill. In 1872.
Messrs. Witt & Holt became the purchasers of
the site formerly occupied by the destroyed
woollen factory. and erected the present mill
building, forty-f1ve by ffty-four feet; with
four floors above the basement; and since that
time they have erected fire-proof brick ele-
vator with a capacity of about fifteen Thousand
bushels. When they commenced, the estab-
was run, as all our mills in this re-
gion then were, on the Burr system of grind
ing. In 1882, they introduced the Roller part
ly, and completed 1t in 1884 to the full system.
Inc pIanG COuJluu0u u grow al Ndluc. JuSt-
ly estimating the fine business. capacity and
the esteem in which these gentlemen ale held,
their sagacity and progressive ideas had also
large bearing as to location for large mer-
business. and the results have
fulfilled their expectations. In 1885. they ad-
ded steam to the water power. and now the
combined capacity is equal to about eighty
horse power, and capable of turning out one
hundred and thirty barrels of flour per day.
THE NEW OUTFIT.
Last May, the proprietors informed the
writer that they would cease grinding some
what earlier than is usual for the summer
and ordinary repairs. for the pur-
pose of placing entire new outfit In position.
Accordingly, the Geo. T. Smith Company. of
jackson, Michigan, Mill-architects, and the
of much of the essential ma
to full Roller system. furnished
and plans, and Mr.. D. ]. Hyden. the
well known mill builder and architect, with
full force of workmen, appeared upon the
scene early in June. The whole interior was
taken down and the floors cleared for the new
THEIR LOCATION.
The engine was changed with new connec-
tions to the west side and a new house erected
for it. Here the main driving shaft has its To-
cation, and one of Howe & EwelPs Milling
Separators receives the wheat for its cleansing
work.
Passing upward from the basement to the
first or grinding floor are fourteen sets of rolls,
and the flour-packers', scales, office, &C. In
the third-story are five of G. T. Smiths Puri-
flyers, Flour Bins, &c. On the next floor are
seven centrifugal reels four inter-elevator reels
three scalpers. one of Nodyke & Marmon's
reels, another reel, dust-collector,
brush machine. &c. On the next and last floor
is combination of the varied machinery in
scalpers, reels, and the elimination of the ele-
vator system of the establishment.
The elevator tubes commencing at the bot
tom ascend to the top of the house and have
openings by glass and panel, and in aggregated
lengths reach two thousand and five hundred
feet. Through these travel the endless bands
with their little buckets conveying the grain
wherever desired, including the service at the
grain-elevator house.
Mr.. Hyden completed his work on the 9th,
and this job like all that he does, will wear its
full time, and add new praise to his already
superior reputation.
The coloring of the tubes in imitation of
cherry was done by Mr.. Charles Stafford which
gives a handsome relief to the interior ar
rangement.
THE OPERATIVES.
The establishment receives the personal at
tention of both proprietors. William B. Will
is head miller with John W. Chapman and
Samuel j. Will assistants. A. Lynn King is
book-keeper and aids in the management
Walter Black is shipper. and. with James
Ritter, general help. Samuel B. Pugh, long in
the service of the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road, is the engineer. and is in charge of the
motive power. He is thoroughly qualified
and remarkably careful in the discharge of
his responsible duties. He is assisted at night
by Andrew Winston, very capable and
worthy colored man.